Steel refining with an electrochemical cell

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866589

Blander, Milton ^[1]; Cook, Glenn M ^[2]

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1. Palos Park, IL
2. Naperville, IL

Apparatus for processing a metallic fluid containing iron oxide, container for a molten metal including an electrically conductive refractory disposed for contact with the molten metal which contains iron oxide, an electrolyte in the form of a basic slag on top of the molten metal, an electrode in the container in contact with the slag electrically separated from the refractory, and means for establishing a voltage across the refractory and the electrode to reduce iron oxide to iron at the surface of the refractory in contact with the iron oxide containing fluid. A process is disclosed for refining an iron product containing not more than about 10% by weight oxygen and not more than about 10% by weight sulfur, comprising providing an electrolyte of a slag containing one or more of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica or alumina, providing a cathode of the iron product in contact with the electrolyte, providing an anode in contact with the electrolyte electrically separated from the cathode, and operating an electrochemical cell formed by the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte to separate oxygen or sulfur present in the iron product therefrom.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4744875
• OSTI ID: 866589
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

steel
refining
electrochemical
cell
apparatus
processing
metallic
fluid
containing
iron
oxide
container
molten
metal
including
electrically
conductive
refractory
disposed
contact
contains
electrolyte
form
basic
slag
top
electrode
separated
means
establishing
voltage
reduce
surface
process
disclosed
product
10
weight
oxygen
sulfur
comprising
providing
calcium
magnesium
silica
alumina
cathode
anode
operating
formed
separate
therefrom
cell apparatus
comprising providing
fluid containing
oxide containing
conductive refractory
slag containing
weight sulfur
calcium oxide
molten metal
electrochemical cell
electrically conductive
iron oxide
magnesium oxide
product containing
metal including
basic slag
separate oxygen
containing fluid
containing iron
cell formed
product therefrom
refractory disposed
metallic fluid
rate oxygen
duct containing
contains iron
/205/